I would hope everyone has gotten the school year off to a good start and is busy preparing for another exciting season of “Hoosier Hysteria.”
If you have not already joined the IBCA, you will be receiving membership information. You can also go online to join and pay your membership dues by credit card. For the first time in seven years, the IBCA Board of Directors has voted to increase the membership dues by five dollars ($5). This has become necessary due to an increase in liability insurance premiums and credit card fees.
It is important that the Varsity Boys’ Coach and Varsity Girls’ Coach at each school encourage their assistants, middle school and even elementary coaches to join. When you join the IBCA, you actually receive dual membership in our organization as well as the National High School Basketball Coaches Association. This allows high school coaches to have a voice on the national level, especially in the area of rules for our game.
I would like to thank All Star Games Director Charlie Hall, IBCA Director of Special Projects Pat McKee and Junior All-Star coordinator Beth DeVinney for another successful Indiana-Kentucky All-Star experience for our state’s top junior and senior boys and girls. This is the third year in a row that attendance has increased and money has been raised for our various charities and scholarships.
It takes a special effort to conduct the Boys and Girls Top 100 Showcase Events each year. A special thanks to Marty Johnson, Kathie Layden, Renee Turpa and Pete Smith and IBCA-member coaches who took time from their busy schedules to work the IBCA Top 100 Showcase events. This is the 13th year that we have been able to provide a quality event for those participating players.
Please be aware of the IBCA Calendar of Events (see the “calendar” item at the end of the e-newsletter). Please pay particular attention to the January mailing that includes nomination and election information. Please also note deadlines dates to nominate players for honor teams, scholarships and showcases as well as ballots for District Representatives and Coaches of the Year. Don’t hurt deserving candidates’ chances of receiving recognition because you forgot to join the IBCA or missed a deadline.
January again will be “Coaches vs. Cancer” month for high school basketball in Indiana. Thanks to all the coaches, players, and communities that have embraced this initiative. Over the past seven years, we are approaching $800,000 raised for cancer research and cancer-related charities.
I encourage all active coaches to become members of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. The coaches of today are the future guardians of the Hall of Fame and will be responsible for recognizing those players and coaches that have done things to preserve the history and tradition of our great game. Active coaches can join for a reduced rate of $25 (regular membership is $100). This includes the quarterly Hall of Fame magazines.
On behalf of the IBCA, we thank you for your support. Good luck this season. Maintain high standards for your players. Don’t sacrifice principles for victories. And may the best teams win.
Steve Witty
